Shelby's Social Diary

Doorkeepers wild game dinner leaves everyone stuffed

Chair Karen Moore and Ann Brent
Jenny Antill
The Open Door Mission chef assistants celebrate the feast they prepared for theDoorkeepers Wild Game Dinner.
Jenny Antill
Chef Charles Rucker of Open Door Mission
Jenny Antill
Host Joe Davis joined Sylvia Sullivan in his home where the dinner was held.
Jenny Antill
Honorary chairs Suzanne and Jack McCrary
Jenny Antill
Richard Davis and Franelle Rogers
Jenny Antill
Members of the Kuumba House dancers provided sounds of African beats to add tothe fun.
Jenny Antill
Mel and Karen Payne
Jenny Antill

Several days before putting on the feed bag for Thanksgiving, a group of philanthropists gathered for a lavish wild game dinner in support of Open Door Mission.

Doorkeepers, the volunteer arm behind the shelter helping homeless and destitute men, sponsors the annual feast prepared by Open Door Mission chef Charles Rucker. He is assisted by student chefs from the mission, who clearly enjoyed the opportunity to shine.

On this night, Joe Davis and Janet Swickard opened their trophy-filled home (as in a lion, a crocodile and rams) in Stablewood to more than 110 supporters. The night was organized by chairs Karen and Bob Moore with Wendy and Irvin Barnhart and Suzanne and Jack McCrary serving as honorary chairs.

Chef Rucker and his team strutted their culinary stuff with a menu that included whole roasted wild boar, wild boar ribs, duck, pheasant, gumbo, duck pate, rabbit pie, elk chops and wild salmon. Yum!

In the mix were Open Door Mission executive director Rich Hill, Doorkeeper president Charles Goodwin, Sylvia Sullivan, Omana and Sam Abraham, Philamena and Arthur Baird, Franelle Rogers and Barbara and Logan Craft.

The group was entertained by costumed dancers from Kuumba House, who provided an African beat to the wild game- themed dinner.

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Party Watch

Food-focused Houston nonprofit rounds up top chefs for Sunday Supper

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Natalie Vaclavik, Ben Ackerley, Will Hoke, and Anthony Greene.

What: Urban Harvest Sunday Supper

Where: J-Bar-M Barbecue

The scoop: More than 200 Houston food lovers donned their finest Western wear for Urban Harvest’s 31st annual Sunday Supper. The annual event always features some of the city’s finest chefs showcasing ingredients from local farms, fisherman, and ranchers, and this year was no exception.

Led by Felipe Riccio of one-star Michelin March and Bryan Caswell, whose Memorial eatery Latuli has quickly established itself as one of the year’s most promising newcomers, the lineup also included Micheal O’Connor (Doris Metropolitan), Jane Wild (Jane and the Lion Bakehouse), Marco Incerti (Tavola), Hilario Zamora (Zanti Cucina Italia), and host chef Arash Kharat, whose smoked lamb t-bone had the crowd asking for seconds. Pre-dinner snacks were provided by chefs Holly Hearn (Game Girl Gourmet) and Josh Sutcliff (55 Seventy Houston).

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Natalie Vaclavik, Ben Ackerley, Will Hoke, and Anthony Greene.

Before supper, guests sipped a signature vodka cocktail from Camellia Monday Hospitality, beers from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, and zero proof cocktails from Cut Above Zero Proof Spirits. Dionysus Imports provided wines to pair with the meal.

A lively auction that included trips, VIP treatment at top Houston restaurants, luxurious at home dinners, and other splurges contributed over $46,000 to the evening’s $165,000 total. That money will help Urban Harvest fulfill its missions of community gardens, farmers markets, gardening classes, and other endeavors to support a more sustainable, healthier food system.

Who: Maria Rene Parada, Connie Sue Ellis, Roy Clark, Anne Lewis, Beth Clark, David Morris, Mark Marmon, Terry Garner, Geraldine Barrett, Ana and Steve Roberson, Diana and Alejandro Madero, Matt and Natalie Vaclavik, Rachel and Blair Kern, Father James Murphy, Russell and Mary Beth Hillenburg, Martin and Elizabeth Coleman, Bailey Dalton, Ellen Weitz, Kevin Lofton, David Young, Kirsten Chong, Ana Beaven and Charlie McDaniel, Ben Ackerley, Judge Beau Miller, Sammy Ford, Kevin Naderi, Mary Clarkson, Howard Stone, Tom Howell, Ashley and Tyler Horne, Dan Lindner, Charlie Talisman, Mary Beth Hillenburg, Alefiya Suby, Caroline Sievers, and Paige Hawley.